Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion is not ruling out presenting a plan for Canada to sign the UN’s International Arms Trade Treaty before the summer.

“Everything is possible,” he said following an appearance before the House of Commons’ foreign affairs committee. During his testimony at the committee, Dion reiterated the government’s commitment to signing the treaty, which the former government said would hinder the rights of recreational gun owners but which aims to stop the spread of weapons around the world.

Dion said he wants to make sure the timeline the government tables will be achievable and that the committee will be able to go through it thoroughly.

“I would have liked that to be done a while ago but it’s complex and my people are working very hard to make sure when we announce the timeline, it will be realistic, that this committee will be able to deliver in the time mentioned.”

Former foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axelworthy has said becoming a party to the treaty would require changes to how Canada regulates arms brokers, reports on weapons sales and handles some of its agreements with the United States.